The Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Muhammad Pate, disclosed this in a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) account, following a stakeholder meeting in Abuja, focused on sustainable financing for nutrition and healthcare.
According to Pate, the initiative is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure long-term, sustainable solutions to malnutrition.
He noted that about 15 states had already pledged support, further strengthening collaborative efforts.
The minister emphasised the importance of transitioning from donor-funded programmes to locally-driven solutions, with Nigerian manufacturers now investing in Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) and other essential nutrition products.
This shift, he said, aligned with Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which prioritised sustainable health financing and private sector participation.
Pate also acknowledged the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UK Government, the Gates Foundation and private sector partners for their role in advancing nutrition interventions. A significant milestone was the donation of six million bottles of MMS by Managing Director of Kirk Humanitarian, Spencer F. Kirk, which has bolstered maternal and child health programmes.
“The mass distribution of MMS in Nigeria represents a milestone achievement, already reducing maternal and neonatal mortality at scale. A healthier and well-nourished Nigeria is a shared goal, and through sustained collaboration, we are making tangible strides toward achieving it,” Pate affirmed.
MEANWHILE, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has budgeted $2.5 billion for the 2023-2027 Nigeria Country Strategy Plans (CSP), geared towards achieving zero hunger and improved nutrition across the country.
Head of Programme, WFP, Mr Seriene Loum, said disclosed this at the co-creation workshop organised by the organization, yesterday in Abuja.
The workshop is in collaboration with the National Social Investment Programme Agency (N-SIPA).
Loum, who represented the WFP Country Director, said WFP’s strategic goal was to ensure a world without hunger in line with the SDGs 1 and 2 on poverty and zero hunger.
He said the organisation would work closely with member states of the United Nations, including Nigeria to mobilise resources to fully implement the programmes.
“WFP Nigeria CSP 2023 t0 2027, a five-year project, has a dedicated activity for strengthening institutional capacities and enhanced enabling environment in line with the national target to achieve zero hunger by 2030.
“The project focuses on food technology, fortification of supply chain management, improving nutrition and emergency preparedness responses.
“2023 to 2027 have five pillars and each of them focuses on zero hunger and improved nutrition. We have some interventions that focus on emergency response, making sure that people will not go to bed hungry which are life-saving activities that aim to provide immediate food assistance to people that are in need,’’ he said.
